Nov. 6, 2017

The Brothers of Waterloo

When it comes to the history of our Navy - or the history of our nation for that matter - there are not too many families that have sacrificed more than the Sullivans. Shortly after the devastating Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor, the family would send all 5 of their sons to sea to serve their country together. Not one of the sons - Albert,

Nov. 6, 2017

The Burden of Command: The Experience of Captain Charles Butler McVay, III

The heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA 35) was struck by two Japanese torpedoes in the first minutes of July 30, 1945. She sank in less than fifteen minutes. Several hundred Sailors and Marines went down with their ship; the rest drifted at sea for four days with few or no supplies until a patrol plane found them by chance and the Navy organized a

Nov. 3, 2017

Ships named for U.S. Marines

Since its creation in 1775, the United States Marines Corps has created its own unique history and culture that has garnered a world-wide reputation for the service as an elite fighting force. The Navy and Marine Corps share similar cultures, customs and traditions, and have formed a winning team that can project power from the sea that is

Oct. 25, 2017

John S. McCain III - Lessons from a "Biased" Son on Legacy, Service, Sacrifice

Editor's note: Anyone who has ever worn a military uniform is no stranger to sacrifice; their normal is weeks and months of long working hours under arduous conditions in sometimes inhospitable locations while separated from loved ones. People who have worn military uniforms also understand that, despite those day-to-day sacrifices, they, like many

Oct. 23, 2017

Theodore Roosevelt and Navy Day

From John Paul Jones to Adm. Elmo R. Zumwalt, from Rear Adm. Grace Hopper to Master Chief Carl Brashear - when it comes to heroes and notable people in history, the list of names in naval history is nearly endless. One enormous personality people may not necessarily associate with the history of the U.S. Navy is the 26th President of the United

Sept. 22, 2017

Honoring Gold Star Families

The fate of the Sullivan Brothers is known by many as story of heroism, service and sacrifice. All five were killed in action when their ship, the USS Juneau (CL-52), was sunk by an enemy torpedo on November 13, 1942 during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. As a direct result the U.S. War Department adopted the "Sole Survivor Policy," designed to

Sept. 13, 2017

Finding USS Indianapolis - After 70 Years, What Changed?

For Memorial Day 2015, Mackinaw City businessman John Murdick decided to honor the World War II service of his father Francis Murdick on the website of his family business by sharing a story his dad told about his tank landing ship being passed by USS Indianapolis (CA 35) on the cruiser's final day.What the younger Murdick couldn't have known was

Sept. 13, 2017

Surveying Sunken WWI Ship USS San Diego

"You're holding onto a $500,000 sonar head. Don't drop it."These were the words of encouragement I received from Tim Pilegard, a graduate student at the University of Delaware. At that moment, Tim and I were struggling to bolt the sonar onto the side of the R/V Joanne Daiber, University of Delaware's 46 foot research vessel.After several failed

Aug. 24, 2017

Lest We Forget: USS Indianapolis and Her Sailors

Why should the U.S. Navy and the American people remember the Indianapolis (CA 35); a ship that sank in the last days of World War II? Why remember one of the worst defeats and a tragic moment in U.S. Navy's history? Beyond the defeat of the sinking itself, USS Indianapolis' story is compounded by grave errors in U.S. Navy command, control, and

Aug. 24, 2017

NHHC Underwater Archaeologist to Assist with Deep Sea Exploration

Dr. Robert Neyland, Naval History and Heritage Command Underwater Archaeology Branch Head, along with scientists from NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, the Ocean Exploration Trust, will provide expertise and commentary as USS Bugara is surveyed via a remotely operated vehicle dive from the Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus on August